In this Geography video, pupils explore how to create a messy map, a hands-on way to represent a bird’s eye view of the classroom using familiar objects such as counters, rulers, bean bags, or counting bears. Working in groups, they choose classroom features to include (such as the whiteboard or tables) and agree on which objects will represent each one.

Pupils then place their items to match the real layout of the room, helping them understand how maps use symbols to represent real places. Once their messy maps are complete, they practise using directional language to describe the layout and explain their map to others.

This lesson is part of the Geography fieldwork and mapping videos, which support progression in spatial thinking, geographical vocabulary and collaborative fieldwork planning.

See more of our Year 1 and Year 2 Geography scheme of work.

• Geography, Year 1, What is it like here?, Lesson 2: What can we see in our classroom?
• Geography, Year 1, What is it like here?
• Geography, Y1/2 (A): What is it like here?, Lesson 2: What can we see in our classroom?
• Geography, Y1/2 (A): What is it like here?